

NATAIS PARTNERS UP WITH CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCERS IN A CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING AND SUSTAINABLE DYNAMIC. TOGETHER, WE WORK ON DEVELOPING A SPECIFIC AGRONOMIC KNOW-HOW THAT IS AT THE INITIATIVE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES

Combining agronomic efficiency and environmental protection
This is what both Nataïs and its farmers network strive to do.
our farmers’ partnership
THE IDEA BEHIND NATAÏS WAS ONE OF A REAL ECOSYSTEM, BUILT AROUND A SHARED PASSION FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING, BY POOLING LOCAL RESOURCES AND TAPPING INTO LOCAL EXPERTISE

OUR FARMERS’ PARTNERSHIP
Today, this long term partnership brings 220 farmers together – of which 30 are organic – for a total surface of 7 000 hectares.
The company has developed a tailored follow up for all farmers, matching their soil and climate conditions. Our agronomic partnership team and its external technical partners regularly meet with every farmer and exchange on improvement techniques, seed selection and growing best practices – especially regarding innovation and sustainability.

Keeping it local
The basis of the business model developed by Nataïs is to rely on local suppliers, drawn from a network of family-run farms, located within a radius of 150 km of the popcorn factory.
Working within the region
THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS APPROACH, OTHER THAN THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF REDUCING TRANSPORT COSTS, IS THAT THE TEMPERATE CLIMATE OF THE GASCONY REGION GUARANTEES THE PRODUCTION OF TOP-QUALITY POPCORN.



Y. et X. Lamothe
Francis Villemur

qui sommes-nous ?
Francis et Didier Villemur
GAEC DE LA GRAVE
32130 SAMATAN
Secteur Bézéril
SAU totale : 220 ha
Surface en pop-corn : 10 ha en biologique
nos débuts
Anciennement salarié dans une coopérative agricole, je suis devenu agriculteur en 1996 après avoir eu l’opportunité de rejoindre mon frère sur l’exploitation en polyculture-élevage.
notre exploitation
De 1996 à 2014, notre exploitation était en agriculture conventionnelle, c’est-à-dire avec l’usage de produits phytosanitaires. Mais depuis 2014, par conviction et pour valoriser nos outils de production, l’exploitation est en agriculture biologique. En effet, l’irrigation, le stockage et le fumier de nos volailles n’étaient pas assez valorisés au sein de notre exploitation et le sont davantage aujourd’hui.
Actuellement nous cultivons sur 220 hectares en pratiquant deux rotations, une sur l’une des parcelles irriguées et l’autre sur les parcelles non irriguées. Cette rotation est la suivante :
Blé -> féveroles -> lentille ->lin oléagineux -> pois chiche -> soja -> maïs (popcorn / semences si irriguées)
notre partenariat avec nataïs
C’est en 2016 que nous avons commencé à cultiver le maïs à éclater et à être partenaire de Nataïs. Nous apprécions ce partenariat car il nous permet une diversification et donne une valeur ajoutée à notre exploitation tout en valorisant notre système d’irrigation. L’engrais obtenu grâce au fumier de nos volailles et d’accroitre nos revenus. La proximité de l’usine, située à une dizaine de kilomètres est également un avantage, les conseillers du partenariat agronomique de Nataïs sont disponibles et à proximité ce qui réduit nos coûts de transport.
Francis Villemur

About us
Francis et Didier Villemur
GAEC DE LA GRAVE
32130 SAMATAN
Secteur Bézéril
Total crop area : 220 ha
Popcorn crop : 10 ha (organic)
how it started
Former employee of a farmers’ Cooperative, I became a farmer in 1996 after joining my brother’s crop- poultry farm.
our farm
Our crop was conventionally farmed from 1996 to 2014 – we used pesticides. Following our conviction and wanting to valorize our means of production, we converted to an organic crop in 2014. Indeed, the irrigation, storage and our poultry’s manure value weren’t optimized – they are today.
We currently cultivate 220 hectares and go through 2 crop rotations, the first one on irrigated parcels and the second one on non-irrigated parcels. The rotation is as following:
Wheat > fava beans > lentils > linseed > chickpeas > soy > corn (popcorn/seeds if irrigated)
our partnership with nataïs
We started our partnership with Nataïs in 2016 and began cultivating popcorn. We appreciate this partnership because it enables us to bring added value to our farm while optimizing our irrigation system, to use the fertilizer obtained through our poultry’s manure and to increase our income.
The plant’s proximity – it is only 10 kilometers away – is an advantage as well, we reduce our delivery costs and Nataïs’ agronomists’ team is right there, available if needed.
Yannick et Xavier Lamothe

qui sommes-nous ?
Yannick et Xavier Lamothe sont deux frères installés dans les Landes en polyculture avec un élevage de canards. Ils cultivent du maïs à popcorn sur les trois quarts de leur surface sur les communes de Benquet, Saint-Avit et Solferino.
notre exploitation
En 2014, nous avons produit du popcorn pour la première fois, sur 50 hectares. Puis, nous avons augmenté cette production chaque année pour atteindre 150 ha en 2017. Nous avons été parmi les premiers agriculteurs à produire du maïs à popcorn dans le département. Depuis, la production s’est bien développée.
nos débuts
C’est une exploitation familiale, notre père s’est installé en 1976 sur quatre hectares. Il a fait évoluer l’exploitation au fur et à mesure des années, ce qui a rendu possible notre installation. Je me suis installé en 2007 avec 50 ha supplémentaires et mon frère Xavier nous a rejoints en 2011 avec une augmentation de surface de 50 ha également. Jusqu’en 2011, nous produisions du maïs grain sur quasiment toute l’exploitation et un peu de production de maïs semences.
notre partenariat avec nataïs
Depuis 2015, nous testons les nouvelles variétés de popcorn afin de comparer leurs résultats. Ici, nous sommes sur les sables humifères des Landes qui présentent des spécificités par rapport à la zone de production historique de Nataïs. Il a donc fallu choisir les variétés les plus adaptées. Le fournisseur de semences est américain et vient régulièrement nous rendre visite pour voir les variétés en test. Ce sont des échanges très intéressants !
Yannick et Xavier Lamothe

About us
Yannick and Xavier Lamothe are two farming brothers settled in the Landes region. They run a crop and duck farm. They cultivate popcorn on three fourths of their surface located in Benquet, Saint-Avit and Solferino.
our farm
We began cultivating popcorn in 2014 and started with 50 hectares. After that we progressively increased this production and reached 150 hectares in 2017. We were one of the firsts to produce popcorn in our region. Since then, the production has developed itself.
how it started
Our father started the farm in 1976 with 4 hectares. Today it is still a family-run farm that has evolved a lot since its beginning. I started working in 2007 with 50 additional hectares and my brother joined us in 2011 with a 50 hectares increase as well. Until 2011 we produced field corn on most of our surfaces as well as a little of seed production.
our partnership with nataïs
We have been testing various new popcorn varieties since 2015 in order to compare results. Here we are on the humid soils of the Landes region that are very specific and different from Nataïs historical production area. We have been carefully selecting more suited varieties. The American seed producer often comes to visit and analyses the tested varieties. These visits always lead to interesting discussions!

Corny facts
Does the popping shape of a kernel depend on its growing method ?
No not at all, it depends on the seed variety. Some varieties pop into a butterfly shape – meaning in all possible directions. The butterfly shape is ideal for powdered seasoning because the contact surface is larger. Other varieties pop into a mushroom shape and are generally used with liquid coatings.

A shared passion for the land
Nataïs and its farming partners were brought together by their common passion for the land. This commitment gets real through their everyday farming routine, impregnated by their search for more sustainable ways.
SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES
THE COMMUN GOAL FOR BOTH NATAÏS AND ITS FARMERS’ NETWORK IS TO COMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES WHILE ENSURING ECONOMIC DURABILITY FOR ALL PLAYERS AND TOP QUALITY FOR OUR PRODUCTS.
TOGETHER WE ARE REDEFINING THE AGRICULTURE OF TOMORROW.
Among our most significant sustainable actions : SEED RESEARCH and selection to find the best possible varieties suited to our regional specificities, WATER MANAGEMENT on our crops enabling us to optimize our WATER CONSUMPTION, our natural soil fertilization and conservation against erosion through GREEN TILLAGE or of course our biological pest control used instead of TRADITIONAL INSECTICIDES.
seed

SEED SELECTION & RESEARCH
We are privileged to have maintained a 25 year relationship with Zangger Seeds, a family owned business in the United states which specializes in traditional seed selection. Zangger’s research in seed selection has allowed for the development of seeds optimized for our soil and climate. Over 40 seed varieties are evaluated and observed every year on Nataïs tests plots. The 4 or 5 most promising varieties are then tested by our partner growers in order to determine whether they will be used in future harvests.
irrigation
MANAGING AND CONSERVING WATER
We’ve set as an objective to reduce our irrigation water consumption by installing a network of electronic probes in our popcorn fields. These probes monitor the plants’ real time needs in water enabling us to optmize our irrigation allocation.
In that same water reduction logic, we encourage our partner farmers to grow early varieties we select, helping to make the most of the abundant spring rainfall

fertility

IMPROVING SOIL FERTILITY AND FIGHTING EROSION
Sun, wind and rain are all vital to the growth of our crops. But they can, in the wrong amounts or in the wrong time, be harmful too.
Nataïs developed the innovative technique Green Tillage, enabling the planting of a cover crop (fava beans) capturing nitrogen in the soil. This system protects the soil from erosion thanks to the residues left on the surface and reduces the need for traditional fertilizer.
corn borer
BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
The european corn borer is just like us ; it loves popcorn !
A noctural moth, the female corn borer lays eggs on the corn stalk at the base of the leaves. The larvae start boring tunnels in the stalks as soon as they hatch, weakening the whole plant.
Nataïs chose a biological solution and uses trichogramma – a kind of tiny wasp – which the farmers release into the fields. Control over this pest is crucial to fight the borer and guarantee a top quality harvested popcorn. This solution is implemented on around 20% of our surfaces with the clear objective of extending this surface every year.


Corny facts
Popcorn is a healthy snack !
Popcorn is naturally rich in fibers and antioxidants but low in calories and fats. It is even recommended to diabetics because its consumption doesn’t impact the glycemic index that much.